Maybe if I close my eyes and wish real hard, I will wake up in my room at the Plaza and all of a sudden my name will be Eloise. Well, let’s be honest, I could give two hoo-ha’s about being named Eloise as long as I have constant access to the Spa on the lower level of the hotel. I was fortunate enough to get to experience the luxe that is the Spa at the Plaza, and I’d like to share that experience with all of you…

It was a typical New York summer day – hot, humid, rainy…I had just left work, and I, as my mother would say, felt like dreck. As the elevator doors opened on the lower level of the oh-so-famous and fabulous hotel, I experienced something that only a few lucky folks have had the pleasure of experiencing in their lives, and it’s usually when they’re in the moves: background music. Yes, I had my own background music (think angelic choirs); and I, in slow motion of course, looked around wide-eyed with a big smile (think Herbal Essences lady emerging from her post herbal experience elevator ride), and then emerged from the elevator into the marbled fantasy land that is the four-year-old Spa at the Plaza. I was there to receive an 80 minute Peppermint Foot Treatment, and my battered and blistered New Yorkified summer feet couldn’t wait any longer.

I was escorted to the locker room area, which I knew had to be up to a certain fab standard, but nonetheless, Erika hates locker rooms, and I can’t help but gulp at the thought of going into one. And, release the breath, it’s all going to be OK…the locker room isn’t one of those typical spa/gym locker rooms where all you want are a blindfold and flip-flops. I would have been happy living in this locker room-and in fact tried to think of a way to make that happen. Each locker has it’s own locking system (each person using the locker comes up with his/her own code, and the lockers get reprogrammed after each visitor). The lockers all contain a pair of terry slippers and a terry robe-yep, the same kind of robe you would find upstairs in the rooms that you’ve always dreamt of snatching when no one was looking. In the center of the locker room is a gimense whirlpool-I know that you don’t necessarily know what my apartment looks like, but the whirlpool was bigger than my studio’s sleeping alcove. Yes, I could fit my bed in the whirlpool-that’s a reality check, people, I’ll be honest. The showers are all cleaned in-between each use (and fitted with floor mats, towels…the works); and the bathrooms have everything a woman may need in a pinch from tampons to a toothbrush and toothpaste. I was then escorted to the waiting room area, which looked more like a mini version of the lobby of the hotel than a waiting room in a spa.

Now, it’s my turn…I like my turn, especially when it involves an 80 minute foot treatment with a paraffin dip. I was greeted by Tina–a veteran massage therapist at the Spa, who took me into the Spa Suite for Two. All the treatment rooms are together in one corridor that is located between the men’s and women’s locker room areas. The Spa suites (for uno or dos) have private whirlpools, bathrooms, and showers. These suites are excellent because they allow for anyone and everyone to be able to come in and enjoy the comfort and yumminess of the spa services regardless of comfort levels, religious backgrounds, or whatever else may stop you from wanting or being able to enjoy a spa-that mole on your arse that no one’s ever seen-you can now still keep that a secret). Now, with all that aside, how FABULOUS is it that you and whomever-your honey, your mom, your sister-can go and enjoy the Spa together? That calls for an exclamation point…!

So, now, from personal experience, I can tell you that the Spa Suite for Two is AMAZING, and I hope you all get to experience it one day. The Peppermint Foot Treatment started with a cleansing scrub, and the paraffin dip and heat wrap (take note-there is a 50 minute Peppermint Foot Treatment that does not include the paraffin dip-but it’s excellent, and I personally feel like it is the icing on a cake-it’s just better with it). During the paraffin treatment, I received an arm, shoulder, and neck rub-enough said. I know that after the massage, the paraffin came off, reflexology happened on my feet, and peppermint lotion and oil was involved; however, I have no recollection of it cause I fell asleep. Snoring, dreaming, the works. Good reporting skills, right? Well, I suppose the fact that I fell asleep speaks for the massage itself, no?

After I got over the shock of having to wake up, get dressed, and face reality that I had to leave the spa (if any of you were curious, no, I did not find a way to be able to live at the spa, but I am still working on it), I went into the bathroom, brushed my teeth because I could, packed my bags, and sadly said goodbye to the Plaza Spa. I noticed that I didn’t have background music to accompany my exit-my 15 minutes of fame and stardom were obviously up (and I got it without being on a Reality TV program-say “no” to Reality TV and say “yes” to the Plaza Spa, is apparently the lesson of the day). This was a luscious experience that I hope to be able to enjoy again some day. The service at the Spa is impeccable, the amenities are unbeatable, and you really will feel like a queen (or should I say, Eloise) for a day.

Is there more to the Spa than just massage-goodness, whirlpools, showers, and saunas?

What more do you want, people??? There is also a health club that is apart of the Spa facilities. This is a gym that even the most exercise fearing gym-a-phobe would enjoy attending (or at least looking at). The gym is available to any guest of the hotel or to visitors (through a special arrangement with the management) for a $50 charge; and, New York residents can become members of this gym for a $1200 initiation fee and $160 per month. The gym as all of the standard cardiovascular and weight machines, but nothing about this gym is standard. All of the cardio machines are equipped with personal television screens and headsets (a fresh pair per guest and per visit). Workout clothing and sneakers are available on-hand for guests and members (fresh and clean, of course), which is perfect for visitors who forgot to pack their sneaks or busy business-folk who didn’t have a chance to pack up their gear before they left for work in the morning – or just don’t feel like carrying that shlumpy gym bag around with you all day, which is something I experience quite frequently. A beautiful mural of Central Park covers the walls behind the cardio and weight machines, which is excellent for me because, whereas I do enjoy the beauty of the park, my allergies and dislike for bugs and dirt keeps me from really enjoying exercising in the park itself. However, if you are a fan of New York nature, the Spa offers A Walk in the Park ($100)-a 60-minute tour/workout through Central Park. The gym also has personal trainers available if you need a little extra oomph getting that tuchus in gear-and I know this, cause my tuchus needs some Plaza loving to get it in gear. Well, a little bit of Plaza loving couldn’t hurt anything, right?

I had an opportunity to speak with Sandra Sadowski, manager of the Plaza Spa, and get her expertise opinion about the Spa and why it is so fabulous.

According to Sandra, the three most popular treatments offered at the Spa are the 80-minnute Aromatherapy Massage ($195.00); the 80-minute Peppermint Foot Treatment ($165 – and it really is to die for); and the Plaza Signature Facial ($190), which was just featured in Spa Finder magazine.

Every ying has its yang, and in this case, it’s paraffin dips. Sandra says that not too many people opt to get paraffin dips during their treatments because it’s not as much of a hands-on treatment. Excuse the editorial irony here, but I think that if you’re getting your hands dipped in paraffin, it is very much a hands-on treatment, and it feels damn good. So, this is Erika’s parenthetical insert of the article–don’t skip out on paraffin…it’s good for your skin, and it’s worth tacking it on to your treatment.

70% of the visitors to the Plaza Spa are guests at the hotel. There is a fairly vast age range that you’ll see at the Spa – mid 20s to late 50s/early 60s–and the male to female ratio is 50/50. Sandra mentioned that they do have a celebrity clientele, but she was unable to disclose who they were for privacy reasons. Ooh, don’t you just want to know though?? I’ll have to go back and just wait around, get a massage or two (and maybe a facial) and find out for myself. As of right now, no one under the age of 18 is allowed to utilize the Spa or heath club facilities, but Sandra and her staff are working on developing retreats for young adults in the near future. Other services that you can expect to see soon at the Spa are seasonal packages and…a four-handed massage. Book your appointment now, because I’ve already booked the first 500 open slots for myself.

And lastly, when I asked Sandra why she thought the Plaza Spa stands out from the rest of the New York spas, she said that not only is the spa itself aesthetically gorgeous, but they also offer several unique treatments that are only offered at the Plaza Spa (like the Signature Facial and the Perppermint Foot Treatment). Furthermore, Sandra noted that she tries to explore other spas in the area on a monthly basis, and absolutely no one else’s service compares to that at the Plaza Spa. I can tell you after having visited the spa, you are treated like royalty from the moment you walk in until the moment you leave, and the staff goes out of their way to make sure that every part of your spa experience is exactly how you envisioned it to be.

Oh, and I asked Sandra what her favorite treatment is: the Body Melt. Of course, the Spa’s menu only lists this baby as being 50 minutes long; however, Sandra gets the benefits of all the massage goodness for a full 110 minutes. It’s good to be the manager. Are there any positions available? Please….

For more information about the Plaza Spa, you can refer to their website.

When I noticed the belly becoming as much a fashion accessory over the last few years as the garments worn above and below it, I looked down at my own and said “Hmmmmm? Needs help.” “The stomach can be the most alluring body part on a woman,” according to one of the most attractive men l’ve ever known. This comment resonated with me, mainly because although my legs and butt are okay, up top…I got NOTHIN’! A toned stomach would offset other shortcomings, I reasoned. Plus, it gives you better posture and makes you stronger and those are both good things. So I made achieving a bare-able belly my goal.

Often people complain that it is so difficult to get a flat tummy. Yeah, it IS hard work, but with commitment it is an attainable goal. The solution is a combination of both diet and exercise. I am neither a nutritionist nor a certified personal trainer, but I can recount what I picked up along the way on my quest for adornable abs.

First, I hit the floor and learned to love that “burn” that Jane Fonda used to allude to back in the day. Crunches will tighten and strengthen your muscles in a way that gimmicky machines won’t. Today, I do my crunches in sets of fifty. I usually do 300 at time for maintenance purposes, but earlier on, when I was just trying to lose the flab, I did closer to 600 per session. The most important thing to be concerned about is your neck. You don’t want to strain or injure your neck, and if you let your head and neck do the work, you will lose much of the benefit of your efforts. Therefore, pay careful attention to feeling your abdominal muscles WORK as you do your crunches. You will know that it’s happening cause it will burn like hell.

The first set is the traditional, back on the floor, knees-bent, elbows-raised, hands on either side of the head sit up. Lift your head toward your knees until you feel the burn in the area just above your belly button. Lower your head. Back up. Fifty times. Work your belly, NOT your neck. Next, cross your left heel over and rest it on your right knee. Place your left hand on your stomach and your right hand behind your head. Reach your right elbow toward your left knee. Fifty times. Then reverse. This develops your oblique muscles and helps define the outer edges of your stomach. This is how a six pack develops. Finally, cross your ankles and raise your straight legs until your feet are almost directly above your head. With both hands behind your head, raise your head towards your knees. Fifty times. This helps your lower abdominals.

I also learned that there’s a reason personal trainers and fitness magazines repeatedly extol the virtues of the bicycle move. Get a mat or put a few towels down and lay on the floor. Lay on your back, knees bent, feet up in the air, hands supporting head. Pull your left knee in toward your head and, raising your head toward it, reach with your right elbow. Fifty times each side.

Regular cardio a few times a week….of course after getting the thumbs up from your physician, will help you in your endeavor, speeding up your metabolism and giving you the extra energy you’ll need to work those abs. You see, you need to burn calories in order to show muscle or even just to show toning.

As far as diet is concerned, personally I have basically said goodbye to white flour, rice and potatoes. I’ll still drink a beer now and then and I eat all other vegetables, plenty of fish and drink yogurt-based smoothies every day for lunch. I feel as if my metabolism is more efficient now, as opposed to all those years that I followed the low- or non-fat philosophy and watched in dismay as the pounds slowly piled on.

Now? REWARD TIME!!!!Finally the work DOES pay off. When I felt that my stomach was no longer something I wanted to keep under wraps I went and ( ::Mom, stop reading here please::) got my belly button pierced. Briefly painful and the ring was boring, but when enough time had passed for it to heal, it was time to shop for something FUN! All of this just in time to discover that belly button jewelry has climbed out of the gutter. No more biker chick or metal-head garb, navel rings now are as decadent and girlie as any bauble you would want to put on a finger or around your neck.

Here in Manhattan the pioneer in high-end navel ring jewelry is an East Village designer by the name of Maria Tash, an FIT educated artist whose store, Venus, is the second piercing studio to have opened in New York (the first is now closed). According to Tash — who started up with your basic studs and ring and ball designs– her eye for beautiful belly button jewelry evolved with her own taste in design. She was one of the very first to seize upon the trend in low-rise pants and cropped tops and see a need for beautiful adornment in the mid-region, and her pieces, which are truly gorgeous, are emulated by designers everywhere.

Venus carries two mouthwatering lines of navel rings. The more affordable line is comes in 14 karat white or yellow gold pieces with semi-precious stones, which range from 45 to 200 dollars apiece. Tash’s higher-end line comes in platinum or 18 karat white or yellow gold and can contain diamonds or other precious stones. These glorious garnishes range from 300 to 3000 dollars. The good news, says Tash, is that people no longer need ‘starter’ navel rings. Today, with proper clinical care in piercing and maintenance, a customer can walk in, get pierced and walk out bearing a fabulous ornament within minutes. The evolution of the stomach as art may have been slower than that of other body parts, but Tash reports that navel piercing is more common today than nose piercing. “I think its here to stay,” she smiles. “It’s sexy and has become mainstream enough that it is a totally acceptable way to wear jewelry.”

I once ruined several of my favorite tank tops because my color enhancing conditioner opened up and stained everything purple. I also used to take my entire makeup bag with me on trips just in case I found myself in a situation that required three-year-old blue glitter eyeliner. Live and learn. I am now a seasoned traveler, seeing as how just about every important relationship in my life is long-distance: Missouri, Ohio, Florida? uptown.. So put down those nail decals and hot rollers, weary traveler. I’ve mapped out your beauty needs.

There is nothing worse than trying to spill proof your face wash (it never works). Keep a cleanser suitable for any climate or activity in a travel bottle at all times. Olay Foaming Face Wash, Sensitive Skin www.drugstore.com works for every skin type. It gets rid of all the grime without drying out the skin, and in fact is better for acne-prone skin than those other harsh cleansers because it doesn’t irritate breakouts or cause new ones. Take it everywhere.

Put a small makeup bag in your carry on. Stock it with the following: lip balm, ibuprofen, moisturizing eye drops, and wet wipes (for when turbulence spills your Bloody Mary). Blue Q Wash Away Your Sins Wipes www.blueq.com rule my world. Besides being super-cute, they smell amazing and leave your skin baby soft.

Tinted moisturizer really comes in handy for traveling, but if you are very fair like me, even the lightest shades make your face look dirty. I finally found the brilliant Elizabeth Arden Sheer Lights Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 in Fair #1 www.macys.com. It is the perfect shade for fair skin, and when I wear it I get those “glowing complexion” compliments that we all strive for. Girls with more color should check out the other illuminating shades. P.S. It doubles as an under-eye concealer.

I am obsessed with sunscreen. I am not, however, obsessed with a bunch of clunky bottles taking up a lot of space and spilling everywhere. I was delighted to discover Completely Bare’s Solar Shield sunscreen wipes www.completelybare.com. The small jar contains 60 very convenient SPF 30 broad-spectrum wipes. Genius.

What’s up with everyone always saying that you should slather on tons of moisturizer when you are flying? When I get off a plane I am greasier than ever, usually with a few new blackheads in tow. The last thing I want is a thick cream on my dirty face. If this happens to you too, don’t fret. Slip a few Stridex Facewipes To Go www.drugstore.com into the previously mentioned carry on. Swipe one of these bad boys over your post flight skin and the greasies are gone. Salicylic Acid zaps the blackheads while aloe soothes.

As far as travel sizes for everyday beauty essentials go, there is one store that consistently delivers. Kiehl’s www.kiehls.com on 3rd Avenue between 13th and 14th streets is a magical place. They will hook you up with huge samples of their amazing products (sometimes you don’t even have to ask), which happen to be the perfect travel size. May I suggest the Grapefruit Deluxe Hand and Body Lotion?

Now go get ‘em, tiger. Have fun, be beautiful, and keep that suitcase under 50 pounds, young lady. If you have any travel tips of your own, let me know. I’m already planning my next getaway!

The ultimate hair product isn’t in a tube or a tub; its a magazine. You search high and low for the perfect shoes, you walk yourself tirelessly from downtown to uptown for the right jeans, heck, maybe you even put your name on a waiting list for a purse, so why settle for a one-size fits all not-quite-you Do? You can be the bazillionth client to bring a fashion mag to the salon and point to the model/actress/singer of the month, OR, before your next appointment, you can give your hair the consideration it deserves and peruse Your Hair. This is a super glossy magazine packed with gorgeous pictures of every imaginable cut, style and color (the August issue boasts 859 sexy looks and September is coming with 969). You can find it stateside on the magazine shelves of large bookstores such as Borders and Barnes & Noble, or at newsstands with good imports, because this beauts a Brit. You Hair features how-to and haircare advice, makeovers, product reviews, all delivered with quirky UK lingo (bangs are called fringe, braids are plaits and color is always spelled colour).

The salons featured on the pages are sadly inaccessible to all but the frequent flyer, but a good portion of the potions is home-grown.

While many of the faces reflecting the current trends will also be familiar (it seems that the British are just as susceptible to celeb idolization as we are), the bulk of the headshots really highlight great cuts and styling, eliminating the yawn factor that comes from mimicking the starlets. This is the perfect source for swipes to show your hairdresser. Senior Editor of Your Hair Rachel Harries aims to provide her readers with style inspiration, celebrity gossip/trends, and advice for their hair problems. Ms. Harries (yes, that is really her name), recently sat down on the opposite end of the Atlantic to offer her two pence on oh do I even have to say it.

On the products she personally favours.
Isn’t everything imported?! Um, I love the Pure Hair range. I think that’s from the States. It’s all natural, organic-type stuff and most of it smells great. I like Aveda’s Hang Straight and L’Oreal Professionnel’s Liss Control. My hair is very fine and prone to ugly frizz, and these straightening creams both help with my daily hair battle! Hmm, I favour Clinique’s hair range, but on a more practical level, I’d probably recommend Andrew Collinge’s range of products as a solid, reliable high street brand.

On the style influence the US offers British women
Hollywood has a lot to offer by way of hair inspiration. We’re always using film stars as an example of new trends. Hollywood also gave us volume (big hair) and tumbling curls as an alternative to the constant stream of ‘straight, sleek’ looks that UK women seem to constantly strive for.

On the hair trends for fall that she is excited about
For Autumn I predict that we will see a return to defined layers a la Jennifer Aniston (the infamous Rachel cut). One-length hair is so, so SUMMER!

On the possibility that Brit beauty tips wont translate on this side of the pond.
I don’t think the approach to hair varies much the world over. If I’m honest, I think the fact that Your Hair is licensed out to eight different countries is testament to that. By the way, Great Hair is our new magazine – a smaller format and a sexy little number.

On personal pearls of hair wisdom
If in doubt, scrape it back in a ponytail. Ponytails are the saving grace of busy working women! They can be as sexy as a perfectly executed blowdry. As long as your hair is clean, you can get away with almost anything.

The address has pure Park Avenue pedigree but the spark of the Yves Durif Salon is generated by the Ludlow-Orchard axis. The style of each distinct East Side neighborhood is culled without the pretense of either, and attentive service (we’re talking seriously personalized, customer-is-queen service) is the standard.

The name of the salon floats wittily inside a cartoon dialogue bubble on the brick wall of a townhouse on East 65th Street, and the reference to one of Yves Durif’s personal hobbies could also define his approach to his eponymous salon; it’s a humor and ease that you would only find…well, nowhere else really. Another phenomenon of this salon is the unbelievable natural light. A stunning chandelier by the late Italian design master Achille Castiglioni is the centerpiece of the 2nd floor salon, but the room is truly illuminated by the 8-foot high windows. The coloring station has windows on two of the 4 walls (seriously, how did he find this property in NYC?), allowing for true color assessment, which is insurance against shock when you leave the salon.

A true new Yorker in every sense that matters (save for his soft, sexy French accent), Durif finds inspiration (and a fair amount of clients) from the street scene and up-and-coming artists on the lower east side. Durif taps the artsy, hip, careless cool he finds there, and then takes it to the upper east side, where he translates it into custom looks for his clientele.

When you get Durif, you are getting an Aveda “Global Master,” who embraces the Aveda concept because “it is a holistic approach and doesn’t stop at the head.” At the salon this means incorporating a woman’s entire image into both the finished product as well as the process, asking clients to stand for the initial shaping of the cut, from the sides back, in order to best compliment their height and body shape. “If you start at the back, you have the woman’s head tilted down and she doesn’t know what is going on.”

At the salon, each stylist and colorist has at least a decade’s worth of experience under their belt. They all incorporate Aveda’s dictum to see the client as a whole, and therefore greet everyone and absorb their identity before the anonymizing salon robe covers all. For this reason, Durif recommends that you always present your best self to your stylist, so they can see how you see you (this means leave your gym clothes in their locker).

In the serious world of celebrity hair, (the salon has a bulk of editorial credits and socialite clients), these professionals leave the egos to others. There are four stylists and two colorists. Yes, if you’re doing your math correctly, that equals maximum intimacy. Patti Vaccaro, a stylist with seemingly magic shears who can tame the curliest curly-Qs, has been with Durif for 12 years, and would rather concentrate on her clients than on salon-hopping.

David Johnstone, the head colorist, has a strong background in cutting as well, and readily consults with the stylists. This communication results in the most complimentary harmony between cut and color. Johnstone believes this attention helps the client feel more cared for. Indeed Johnstone embodies the salon’s approach to customers, “I’m a server.” Bless him!

Yves Durif Salon
130 East 65th Street
212-452-0954

In new relationships the general protocol is that after a few months your significant other needs to exhibit some form of commitment to you to prove their resolution to stay in the partnership. Some people choose poems and flowers, others choose trips to faraway bed and breakfasts. Me, I choose skincare. I was on a search for the ultimate oily skincare regime for all my BeautyNewsNYC.com ladies, and my face is still recovering. But hey – now you really know I care, right? Good. So here are the things that I tried that are still in heavy rotation.

We’ll start basic – cleansers. There were a few that are retaining their prime sink real estate. First was a line I hadn’t heard of called Repechage (www.repechage.com), and I specifically used the Hydra Refine Skincare for Normal to Oily Skin. All of the Hydra Refine products contain four main elements included in their makeup. (1) Laminaria Saccharina Seaweed is cold pressed, as are all of Repechage’s seaweeds, which help to give a larger dose of skin nutrients, trace elements, and amino acids. Specifically, laminaria saccharina helps to reduce sebum (oil) and fights oil oxidation, which contribute to the formation of blackheads, while still hydrating the skin. (2) Lemongrass is an antiseptic and astringent, making it an effective agent against bacteria formation. (3) Lily of the Valley (Farnesol) is more protection against bacteria and then (4) Cucumber is the softening, cooling, healing, and soothing ingredient. Its essential oil contains lots of yummy things for your skin – anti oxidants like Vitamin E and Zinc for healing, fatty acids that protect the skin, as well as proteolytic enzymes which refine skin and help keep pores clean. Their Hydra Refine Cleansing Mousse is a soap free formula that takes off all of your makeup and leaves you feeling soft as well as clean. I loved this! And I really liked that the formula in the cleanser was helping to clear up oil from the get go instead of waiting for the toner to do it.

Two others I enjoyed were from the Mario Badescu line (www.mariobadescu.com) which will come up quite a bit. The Enzyme Cleanser is a gentle, non-foaming green gel that uses natural alpha hydroxy acids to remove all the guck from your face. Water, glycerin, papaya, and grapefruit are the main ingredients and it’s simple but it works. Their Glycolic Foaming Cleanser was something that I ended up using 1-2 times per week but you could use it every night if you like that squeaky-clean-no-oil-left-in-my-body feeling. As the name indicates, glycolic acids are used to break down the build up of oil and debris from your skin as well as helping to soften fine lines, reducing redness, and acne scarring. Because you’re using glycolic acids on your face you MUST use your sunscreen, which we’ll get to later.

Some people swear by astringents and/or toners while others view them as stuff and nonsense. I was admittedly on the fence before, but these products have changed my ways. Besides, they feel nice and can get any leftover makeup you missed. I love, love, love the Repechage Hydra Refine Astringent Pads. These guys are presoaked in all those wonderful ingredients we went over before, and they smell wonderful. They also contain mulberry and licorice extracts to brighten your skin as well as allantion and aloe vera to calm and soothe. Bottom line – they work and smell delicious.

Joey of New York has Pure Pores One Step Toner and Moisturizer (www.sephora.com) which is about a medium toner due to the fact that it contains glycolic acid gel. Aloe vera juice is its base and herbal extracts round out the group to help with the total effect keeping your pores open and happy, healing blemishes, and smoothing fine lines. I like this a lot for photo shoots because it cleans your face but doesn’t strip it. You feel soft and not greasy.

However, if you like a super clean feeling, you’ll want to use an alcohol based toner like Mario Badescu’s Special Cucumber Lotion. Sodium sulfate and boric acid get you good and clean while cucumber extract is thrown in to soothe and refine your skin. Alcohol is good because it keeps the bacteria from spreading – especially when you’re sweating all over. It’s great after the gym or on a hot day to use it even on your chest and back – wherever your concerns are.

On to scrubs. ProActiv Solution’s Renewing Cleanser (www.proactivsolution.com) , which to me is a scrub because it’s got the little beady guys in it, is effective because it contains benzoyl peroxide which is great for oily skin. It helps to dry the oil as well as act as a treatment for bacteria. I also really like to mix it, half and half, with Mario Badescu’s Enzyme Cleaner for a little added kick.

And speaking of, Mario Badescu has their Kiwi Face Scrub. It is a fun green color and is full of real kiwi seeds as well as soft tiny bits of seaweed, which naturally buff away the surface dullness to reveal your natural glowing self. It smells like fruit salad and won’t irritate or dry your skin.

Now, my all time favorite item – masks. I don’t know if it’s the promises they make, the fun colors they are, or being forced to be semi still for 20 minutes, but I love masks. Of course I have some favorites. Astara’s Blue Flame Purification Mask (www.astaraskincare.com) comes in a little jar but it packs a punch. There is a virtual cornucopia of excellent ingredients in this including kaolin, bentonite, aloe vera gel, sage and tea tree oils, as well as echinacea root. It’s wonderful all over or as a spot treatment for blemishes, and it smells heavenly. Seriously, if you are a greasy girl, this needs a home on your sink.

Borghese’s Fango/Active Mud for Face and Body (www.borghese.com) is also manna from the skincare gods. Made with – get ready – the volcanic Acqua di Vita Complex Montecantini Mud, as well as peppermint and avocado oils, this mask will clean out dirt from when you were in high school. Get the big tub so you can use it on your body as well (you can even mix some sugar in it to make a cheaper scrub version). For the sissy girls, there’s the Delicato version which is more gentle.

If waiting isn’t your game, Repechage has their Hydra Refine One-Minute Clarifying Mask which contains tiny balls of rice bran wax and lactic acid to exfoliate. The reason I liked this mask a lot was because it truly cleaned my skin and absorbed oil but didn’t make me feel dry. My skin felt baby soft but not “filmy.” And it only took a minute.

I’m not a huge advocate of a moisturizer for myself in the summer (I know, I know, everyone needs to moisturize) but the single one I have found that doesn’t hurt my skin is the soy based Aveeno Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15 (www.drugstore.com). It’s oil free and contains natural light diffusers which are supposed to help even out your tone and texture. However, the sunscreen I use on a daily basis is Sage’s Waterproof SPF 40 (www.sageskincare.com). I love this sunscreen because it’s gentle on my skin, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t make me greasy. Stabilized aloe vera gel makes up the base and the formula blocks UVA and UVB rays.

Treatment products are my other vice. Joey New York’s Pure Pores Roll-On Blemish Fix, Urban Decay’s Sniper (www.urbandecay.com), and Benefit’s Boo Boo Zap (www.benefitcosmetics.com) are all good blemish spot treatments, and they’re listed here gentle to serious when it comes to their salicylic acid content. If redness is an issue, Mario Badescu’s Buffering Lotion heals affected areas and actually promotes growth on damaged skin. Sodium sulfate, zinc oxide, hydrolyzed yeast protein, and allantoin are all included and this product really works. It helps get the “underground” blemishes as well.

Dr. Brandt Skincare (www.drbrandtskincare.com) has Pore Effect, which is a night time treatment containing the highest amount of salicylic acid before a prescription is required. The salicylic acid acts as an exfoliant and stimulates cellular turnover. Tea tree and rosemary are included as clarifiers, while palma rosa and lavender add calming effects. Once again, a serious product that does its job but doesn’t sting or make your skin beet red.

As a last resort I tried to staunch my oil supply. Honestly, it didn’t work out that well. If mattifiers didn’t break me out, they were ineffective. One that did work was Decleor’s Gel T-Zone Regulateur Intensive Anti-Shine Gel (www.decleor.com). Oil free, which oddly enough is not the norm in mattifiers, this gel contains tea tree which neutralizes germs that cause blemishes, Zinc and Vitamin A which regulate your sebum, and white nettle extract which “blots” your skin. If you’re noticing a theme going here you could try using regular old tea tree oil from the health food store. Its antiseptic properties make it a good oil, even for oily skin, that can help to even out your sebum production. Makes your face sound like a weird Broadway show doesn’t it? Astara makes a deluxe version named Facial Serum for Oily Skin containing all kinds of oils including tea tree as well as hazelnut, calendula, mandarin, and basil just to name a few.

Now, if the idea of putting oil onto your oily skin freaks you out, I feel you. BUT, these two had no adverse effects on my skin and they’re pretty mild.

If you’re still with me at this point I can give a few shout outs to products that did not personally work for me but I know that they are main contenders for others. For instance, the beauty level at Bergdorf Goodman here in NYC seems to be divided into two main groups – M.D. Skincare’s Alpha-Beta Peel Home Facial System and Dr. Brandt Skincare’s Poreless Cleanser (in conjunction with the Pore Effect mentioned earlier). M.D. Skincare’s Peel – made up of two sets of presoaked pads – contains alpha and beta hydroxy acids, vitamins A, C, and E, as well as green tea and an oil free moisturizer. Dr. Brandt’s Poreless Cleanser contains citrus extracts as well as tea tree and rosemary so take your pick. I also have a strong follower of Decleor’s Arromessence Ylang Ylang’s Purifying Concentrate and Night Balm. This follows the principle of oily skin needing oil to regulate it.

If you haven’t found something that piques your interest or you have a product you love that wasn’t mentioned, write in and let me know. lt has become my personal mission to find a way to eliminate oilslicks! Until l reach that goal, I’ve decided to shine away and love it…knowing that with these products l can control the amount of shine and help regulate my skins surface and keep it clean and fresh looking without overdrying!

It’s hard to believe a man could understand women, their skin problems and the way they look at themselves as well as Erno Laszlo did. Or rather still does, as his legend continues today.

Ahead of his time, this Budapest doctor not only discovered but understood the true secret of skincare. He once said, “It is one part physiology, one part psychology, one part philosophy”.. And what are we all talking about today? …”Mind, body and soul” Exactly what Erno said almost 50 years before. The man was way ahead of his time.

From Hungary to Hollywood, Garbo to Jackie O, the list of Laszlo ladies is quite spectacular. The most memorable encounter is perhaps when Katherine Hepburn begged him to remover her freckles. As strong willed as Katherine herself, Erno refused, claiming they were an integral part of her beauty!

I could go on and on about the fairytale stories of unhappy princesses and numerous famous women who wrote to him about their problematic skin. But I’m actually here to write about the products! (Nonetheless the EL story is a rather fascinating one…Spielberg take note!)

When I walked into the Erno Laszlo office in Midtown and saw the plastic, black-labeled, see-through bottles of oil with that grunge-like sludge at the bottom, memories of my youth came flooding back. So this was the mysterious liquid that my older sister used to use. She was probably the first in Ireland to even know about EL products. And she swore by them. Now twenty years later, I can see why.

What’s different about Erno Laszlo? Well. First of all there are 6 o’ clocks. Six what? Instead of the usual dry, normal, oily skin types, Laszlo believed there are 6 skin types or rather, o’clocks that cover every type of skin. Dr. Laszlo great breakthrough was to harness the power of water. So he made formulas that maximize the skin’s ability to benefit from the cleansing and replenishing properties of water. So he developed a ritual of skin preparation which requires 30 splashes of water with comfortable warm water.

Performed twice a day, this ritual gives your skin a 24-hour cycle of continual, gentle conditioning and renewal. Getting back to the o’clocks, each one involves soap, (specially formulated for that skin type), toning and conditioning, moisturizing and protecting and finally a finishing step.

I’ve been doing this soap n’ splash ritual for the past 2 weeks and I see a difference. A big difference. My skin clocked in at the 11:30, (slightly dry skincare) ritual. I was sure I’d be very dry, but these products are so rich you really don’t need to overdo it. If you experience slight dryness, rarely experience pimple breakouts and often have oiliness in the t-zone when it’s humid, you’re an 11:30-er, like me. (If you’re confused about the time thing, don’t worry I’ll give you details at the end as to where you can get your all the info on your Laszlo clock. Biological clocks not included!!)

Splish Splash
Here’s a brief outline of the 11:30 ritual. There are 9 products altogether, but not all are used for the AM ritual.

Prep:
After your shower, put your hair up and fill the sink with warm, not too hot water.

Cleanse: Pour a dime sized drop of Active pHelityl Oil into palm and smooth over your face. Dip the Active pHelityl Soap in the water and gently rub the bar over your new oily face. Make a rich lather in hands and massage oil-soap combo for a few seconds.

Splash: Here’ the fun part. Splash 20 times in the same water. Empty sink. Slash another 10 times with hot running water. Blot with a soft towel.

Tone: Apply Light Conditioning Lotion to face using a cotton ball. Avoid eye area.

Eye Care: using ring finger gently pat pHelitone Eye Treatment on the bones above and below eyes avoiding lash lines. This cream is rich in anti-oxidants and has a deep orangey color so make sure you only use a tiny amount.

Moisturize/Protect: Smooth pHelityl Lotion SPF 15 (aha!) over face.

Finish: Almost done. Allow moisturizer to set, then apply Absolute Finish SPF 15 blending with fingertips.

Finally, for a real finished look, firmly press Duo-pHase Face Powder onto skin using a cotton ball. (I don’t use this at all. I like a natural look and since I have the SPF protection I’m good to go.)

Make the time! OK. I can hear you saying, “Yeah right, who’s got time for this o’clock business?” Well, my answer is simply “make the time!” At the end the day, how many hours have you spent watching crappy “reality shows” about who’ll be voted off the island, who’ll marry a bald-headed, unattractive father of 4, or who’ll win the hand of Joe Shmoe, etc., etc. Get your priorities straight. Your skin is a real reflection of you. And as Erno (or Ernest as I like to call him, as in Ernest Wilde) said “Beauty is not vanity – it’s a woman’s duty. A woman’s beauty is important equipment for prolonging the race.” Cos remember the skin doesn’t lie. And neither do EL products.

In addition to the 11:30 ritual, I’ve also been using another cream to target a much neglected area: the décolleté (how in God’s name do you pronounce this word?). Erno Laszlo’s Intensive Décolleté Cream, SPF 20 is magical. I put a tiny dime-sized amout after a shower and its so rich you can feel the difference this area is very delicate and one that needs more attention as we get older.

Time for Timeless
And talking of that dreaded word “aging”, indulge in EL’s latest Timeless Age Preventative Treatment Serum and you’ll really see a difference. Loaded with intensive fatty acids complex, vitamins B, C and E, this hypoallergenic, allergy/irritation tested treatment gives a smoother, youthful texture. I use it throughout he day and I’m amazed at the glow of my skin.

Then I saw here face. Now she’s a believer
Think I’m a biased EL fan? Well, I also gave the o’clock ritual and Timeless products to a total non-believer (she swore about another famous doctor, Dr. Salmon Perricone). As an oilier, 2 o’clocker, she did the splish-splash ritual for 5 days. And she’s converted… claiming her skin has never felt so clean, smooth and has a new tone to it.

Now’s the time
I could go on and on about these products, but I won’t. Instead let me give you the info you need to get clocked. Go to the new Erno Laszlo Insititute at Bergdorf Goodmans and they’ll go through your skin type and get you clocked in minutes (no pun intended). For a mere $75.00 you’ll get a complete trial kit that lasts a few weeks. This is really an excellent deal considering you can see a difference after 3 days. And the kit can last for weeks. Also, checkout Erno’s Laszlo’s website at www.neimanmarcus.com for all their latest Timeless products.

If all this isn’t enough to convince you, let me just finish with the fact that when Erno Laszlo died, he was in his late 70′s. Nobody believed it, he looked like he wasn’t a day over 50.

Enough said.

Feeling blue that summer’s over? Slip into fall’s new hues. From perfect plums to gunmetal greys to divine denim, this season’s palette offers a glam shade for every mood and skin tone. Here, Beauty News NYC’s guide to what’s coloring your world.

Film Noir
With smoky, drama-queen eyes in sepia, green and gunmetal shades, you’re ready for your big close-up. Seductive and sultry, this trend focuses on the contrast between dark shadow and nude lips – the ultimate in cinematic sex appeal. Think Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda or Charlize Theron. M.A.C.’s new Femme Noir and Nars’ Raw Glamour collections both channel these sirens of the silver screen.

Get the Look
Eyes: Nars Duo Eye Shadow in Arctic & Thunderball, M.A.C. Eye Shadow in Femme Noir (shown above), Eye Kohl in Tarnish (shown above) & Pro Lash in Coal Black.
Cheeks: M.A.C. Cream Colour Base in Fawntastic (shown above).
Lips: M.A.C. Lipstick in Underplay (shown above).
Nails: M.A.C. Nail Polish in Cunning or Barest?

M.A.C. cosmetics available at www.maccosmetics.com.
Nars cosmetics available at www.sephora.com.

Purple Reign
Lilacs, lavenders, mauves and raisins rule the runways this season. The hue of royalty, purple is back in a big way especially in Dior’s new cosmetics collection and its star: couture-inspired Dior Twist palettes in corset cases. Whatever shade of eggplant you prefer, purple adds instant allure, especially on eyes. And you don’t have to feel as funky as Prince or Hendrix to rock this shade.

Get the Look
Eyes: Dior Twist Eye Trio Palette in Charm (shown above) & Divinora Lash Lengthening and Curving Mascara in No. 51 Violet Plum.
Cheeks: Dior Blush in Heavenly Plum & Maximeyes in Maxi Plum.
Lips: Nars Lip Lacquer in Chica Boom and Tony & Tina Herbal Aroma Lip Gloss in Siduri.
Nails: Dior Vernis in Fantasy Beige.

Dior, Nars and Tony & Tina cosmetics available at www.sephora.com.

Indigo Girls
Blue-jean babies can now dress in head-to-toe denim with the newest trend to hit the beauty scene. Chanel’s icy or acid-washed blues, classic navies and dark rinses all take their inspiration from your favorite pair of 7 for all Mankind’s. And like those perfect-fitting, booty-enhancing jeans, these shades make any femme feel sexy. But, before you get all matchy-matchy, remember to focus this color on a single feature like your eyes to keep your look rock star and not heavy metal groupie.

Get the Look
Eyes: Chanel Jeans de Chanel palette (shown above), Crayon Yeux in Blue Jean, Mascara Extracils in Blue Moon.
Lips: Chanel Levres Scintillates in Crystal Blue.
Nails: Chanel Le Vernis in Crystal Blue.

Chanel cosmetics available at www.gloss.com.

Earth Angel
If you’re in need of a change from summer’s glossy, shimmering shades or just tired of looking shiny all the time, you can breathe a sign of relief. Matte makeup in subtle skin tones has quietly made its return thanks to beauty gurus Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown. Their new collections, La Dolce Vita and Nude on Nude, respectively, are designed to enhance that natural glamour you’ve already got going on.

Get the Look
Eyes: Bobbi Brown Nude on Nude Eye Palette (shown above) & Laura Mercier Kohl Eye Pencil in Brown Copper.
Cheeks: Bobbi Brown Cream Blush Stick in Sienna or Desert Rose.
Lips: Laura Mercier Lip Stick in Sienna, Paprika or Fig & Bobbi Brown Suede Lip Gloss.
Nails: Tony & Tina Nail Paint in Logic.

Bobbi Brown cosmetics available at www.bobbibrown.com.
Laura Mercier cosmetics available at www.lauramercier.com.
Tony & Tina cosmetics available at www.sephora.com.

Precious Metals
This fall, that ubiquitous glitter at the department store makeup counter has transformed into something more sophisticated and modern. Autumn’s new gilded beauty is rich in gold, platinum and copper like the great classic screen sirens of Hollywood. Whether you opt for 24-karat lined eyes or burnished lips, you’re guaranteed to shine like the star you are.

Get the Look
Eyes: Lola Eye Shadow in Evan & Eye Pencil in Silver Bullet, Guerlain Curling Mascara.
Cheeks: Lola Cream Blush in Monte Carlo.
Lips: Nars Lip Lacquer (shown above) in Hellfire.
Lips: M.A.C. in De Lightly & Nars Eye Liner pencil in sandstorm (gold).

Lola cosmetics available at Henri Bendel and www.sephora.com.
Nars cosmetics available at www.sephora.com.
M.A.C. cosmetics available at www.maccosmetics.com.

Think Pink
It’s the color that’s as pretty and demure as a ballet slipper. But for fall, pink shouts for attention on eyes, cheeks, lips and nails. Its romantic side is still going strong, but fabulous flamingos and intoxicating poppies are popping up, too. On eyes, use this hue sparingly, especially on fair complexions. You want to achieve a fresh flush (and not that you were accidentally socked in the peepers).

Get the Look
Eyes: Mary Quant Action Lashings Brushless Mascara in Mambo Pink
Cheeks: Chanel Irréelle Blush in Be-Bop
Lips: Dior Addict Sheer Glitter Lip Color in Cool It & Tony & Tina Herbal Aroma Lip Gloss in Aja
Nails: M.A.C. Nail Polish in Barest

Mary Quant cosmetics available at Mary Quant Color Concept Shop, 520 Madison Avenue, and Henri Bendel.
Chanel cosmetics available at www.gloss.com.
M.A.C. cosmetics available at www.maccosmetics.com.